Hey, Beautiful. Yes, You Reading This...
Not my typical frivolous racing, training, general craziness post.
I'm typing this as my friend is in ICU fighting for her life.*
No, actually that's not true. She's not fighting. She's tired of fighting. So tired, in fact, that she put herself in ICU while attempting to end her life. Her story is actually more common than you would think.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2012, an estimated 43.7 million American adults were affected by a mental health illness. That's 18.6 percent of adults. And those are just the adults. Those are just the American adults. And those are just the cases that are reported.
Here's what I know. Some people who struggle with depression or anxiety or any mental health disorder feel that there's ultimately something broken and wrong in them. Many don't know what's wrong, what makes them sad, what makes them feel so broken. How do you explain to a person who's never felt it that you feel like there's a giant hole within you? A darkness inside that smothers you like a blanket. Usually they try to cover the feeling by using drugs or alcohol or exercise to find brief moments of happiness... or maybe just moments of less darkness.
If this is you, I'll tell you what I've been telling my friend for the last year that I've known her...
You are beautiful.
You are a priceless treasure.
Your beauty and worth is not based on anything you've done. It's not based on how you look or how much you weigh or what you say or think.
Your beauty and worth is based on your Creator. You were made in His image-- pure love and light.
You are broken. But we all are broken. All of us are broken and in need of our Creator, our Father to gently pick us up, clean us out, and set our world right. He finds no fault in us. In His eyes, we are beautiful and pure and perfect. We don't need to work for His love, repay His love, earn His forgiveness. He heals our brokenness and covers our ugliness because of His great love for us. Because Jesus willingly chose to give His life, to be punished instead of us. And through this great gift we can find healing.
You will be ok. Everything will be ok. Just hold on. Share your pain, your struggle, your journey with others.
You are not alone.
You have a great hope and a future.
You are dearly loved.
*Update: she is awake and alive, physically. But still so very raw inside.
I'm typing this as my friend is in ICU fighting for her life.*
No, actually that's not true. She's not fighting. She's tired of fighting. So tired, in fact, that she put herself in ICU while attempting to end her life. Her story is actually more common than you would think.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2012, an estimated 43.7 million American adults were affected by a mental health illness. That's 18.6 percent of adults. And those are just the adults. Those are just the American adults. And those are just the cases that are reported.
Here's what I know. Some people who struggle with depression or anxiety or any mental health disorder feel that there's ultimately something broken and wrong in them. Many don't know what's wrong, what makes them sad, what makes them feel so broken. How do you explain to a person who's never felt it that you feel like there's a giant hole within you? A darkness inside that smothers you like a blanket. Usually they try to cover the feeling by using drugs or alcohol or exercise to find brief moments of happiness... or maybe just moments of less darkness.
If this is you, I'll tell you what I've been telling my friend for the last year that I've known her...
You are beautiful.You are a priceless treasure.
Your beauty and worth is not based on anything you've done. It's not based on how you look or how much you weigh or what you say or think.
Your beauty and worth is based on your Creator. You were made in His image-- pure love and light.
You are broken. But we all are broken. All of us are broken and in need of our Creator, our Father to gently pick us up, clean us out, and set our world right. He finds no fault in us. In His eyes, we are beautiful and pure and perfect. We don't need to work for His love, repay His love, earn His forgiveness. He heals our brokenness and covers our ugliness because of His great love for us. Because Jesus willingly chose to give His life, to be punished instead of us. And through this great gift we can find healing.
You will be ok. Everything will be ok. Just hold on. Share your pain, your struggle, your journey with others.
You are not alone.
You have a great hope and a future.
You are dearly loved.
*Update: she is awake and alive, physically. But still so very raw inside.
This is a beautiful post. Prayers for your friend, and for all who battle hopelessness every single day.
ReplyDeleteShe is blessed to call you friend. I am praying for her right now.
ReplyDeleteThank You! This is stunningly beautiful! I have two family members who live and struggle with a mental illness. My #write31 days is Being a Daughter: 31 Days of Mental Illness. I'll be praying for you and your friend!
ReplyDeletePraying for your friend. I attempted suicide several times in my late teens and early 20s because I couldn't figure out how to live in this world and it just hurt too much. I'm grateful that the Lord knew better than I and I hope and pray that your friend will survive and will learn to thrive.
ReplyDeleteI have a post along these lines in my queue as this is the anniversary month of the suicide of a man about whom I cared deeply.
Amy, such a beautiful post. I pray your words and those of others break through the dark fog your friend is in. Blessings to you and your family.
ReplyDelete